After a fatal accident on the ice at Evergreen Lake last winter, local agencies are coming together to increase safety and coordinate their responses to emergencies.
“Unfortunately, tragedy does get us to stop and ask, ‘How can we make this better?’ ” said Stacee Martin, public information officer for Evergreen Fire Protection District.
and he was in the water for 30 minutes before crews could get him out. He later died.
More than 50 representatives from local agencies, from the water district to the fire district, met recently to discuss how they can better collaborate on safety at the lake this season.
Evergreen Lake is unique in that there are a variety of interested parties at play. The lake is owned by the city of Denver as part of its mountain parks system, but Evergreen Park and Recreation District manages the recreational activities, trails and lake house under a lease agreement.
Evergreen Metro District manages the lake as a water source for the community. Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office has law enforcement jurisdiction and Colorado Parks and Wildlife handles fishing licenses and wildlife interactions. Jefferson County Open Space is also a stakeholder, with numerous parks nearby. Evergreen Fire Rescue responds to emergencies, but does not have diving gear, so they call in West Metro Fire for underwater rescues.
In the meeting, these agencies shared information about their operations, and also waded through some logistical collaboration, such as deciding on universal terms for areas of the lake, and how to relay the extent of an emergency.
“I know it might sound silly, but these things happen in a matter of minutes,” Martin said, so having a universal language among agencies is crucial.
Martin said the meeting also stressed the importance of calling 911 in case of emergencies instead of staff or civilians attempting a rescue, which can in turn make them a victim, too.
Ellen O’Connor, executive director of Evergreen Parks and Recreation, said that the agencies have always had good relationships, but this is the beginning of sharing resources, like cross-training staff and volunteers.
“It’s been there, I think it’s just being more intentional about it,” she said.
The recreation district has also made some changes this year. that take place outside of the maintained skating rinks will no longer be permitted.
“That’s going to be a firm policy moving forward,” O’Connor said.
O’Connor said the district sometimes hears from members of the community who get concerned when they see fishermen, sometimes even staff, on what they would consider thin ice. .
However, all agencies face that dilemma: none of them patrols the lake regularly and enforcement would be difficult if they were to ban people from going on the ice, said Bob Finch, Denver’s director of natural resources.
“Like many things we do in the out of doors, there are inherent risks that are always part of the activity, and we always face the question of how much does the government intercede,” he said.
For its part, the recreation district posted new signs that warn when there is thin ice, and staff at the lake will have ice safety pamphlets to hand to ice fishermen.
“Hopefully, they’ll respect that piece of information,” O’Connor said, “and really take it to heart and consideration when coming to the lake and being out on the lake.”
Josie Klemaier: 303-954-2465, jklemaier@denverpost.com or @JosieKlemaier
Evergreen lake
For information on ice skating and ice conditions, call the hotline at 720-880-1391.
